ZANZIBAR, Tanzania – Several individuals in Pemba Island, part of the Zanzibar archipelago, have fallen ill or died after consuming sea turtle meat, local authorities reported recently. The consumption of sea turtle meat has long been considered a delicacy in Zanzibar, leading to tragic consequences in this instance.
According to Dr. Haji Bakari, the medical officer in the Mkoani District, eight children and an adult lost their lives, with an additional 78 individuals requiring hospitalization. The cause of these fatalities is believed to be chelonitoxism, a form of food poisoning associated with consuming turtle meat.
Tragically, the mother of one of the deceased children also succumbed to the effects of eating turtle meat. The fatal consumption of the turtle meat occurred on a Tuesday, leading to widespread health consequences in the community.
In response to this crisis, authorities in Zanzibar have dispatched a disaster management team, led by Hamza Hassan Juma, to address the situation and caution residents against the consumption of sea turtles. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the region, as in November 2021, a similar outbreak resulted in multiple deaths and hospitalizations.
Laboratory tests have confirmed that all the victims had ingested sea turtle meat, further underscoring the link between the consumption of this delicacy and the adverse health effects experienced by those affected. Immediate action is being taken to prevent further incidents of this nature, and the community is being urged to refrain from consuming sea turtles to avoid such tragic outcomes in the future.